Coverage dated February 3, 2023 to February 5, 2023

China reacts to US shooting down balloon: 'Indiscriminate use of force'

Headline from WWL New Orleans, on the newest of 2 developments

The U.S. shot down the balloon off the Carolina coast after it traversed sensitive military sites across North America.

WWL New Orleans's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Earlier updates in this story

Developments in this update

2 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

Feb 4, 2023
3 fast facts about the Chinese balloon flying over the U.S.
Headline from WCNC ·
Feb 6, 2023Newest
China reacts to US shooting down balloon: 'Indiscriminate use of force'
Headline from WWL New Orleans ·

Read the reports

Reports & sources

411 articles, oldest first.

Deutsche Welle
What we know about Chinese 'spy' balloons – DW (opens Deutsche Welle)
Published Feb 3, 2023
Deutsche Welle's feed description
After a Chinese "spy" balloon was sighted over the United States, another was spotted over Latin America. DW sums up what know about them so far.
FOX 6 Milwaukee
Chinese balloon: US considering plan to down spy balloon over Atlantic (opens FOX 6 Milwaukee)
Published Feb 3, 2023
FOX 6 Milwaukee's feed description
The balloon was spotted Saturday morning over the Carolinas as it neared the Atlantic coast.
Elko Daily Free Press
US downs Chinese balloon over ocean, moves to recover debris (opens Elko Daily Free Press)
Published Feb 3, 2023
Elko Daily Free Press's feed description
The U.S. downed a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the Carolina coast after it traversed sensitive military sites across North America and became the latest flashpoint in tensions between Washington and Beijing.
Tulsa World
A look at what's known about the suspected Chinese spy balloon crossing the US — and what isn't (opens Tulsa World)
Published Feb 3, 2023
Tulsa World's feed description
The Pentagon says it's a Chinese spy balloon. China says it's just an errant civilian airship used mainly for meteorological research. But there are a lot of unanswered questions. Here's a closer look.
Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier
US moving ahead on plan to down Chinese balloon over ocean (opens Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier)
Published Feb 3, 2023
Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier's feed description
The Biden administration is moving forward with a plan to shoot down a large Chinese balloon suspected of conducting surveillance on U.S. military. It would be brought down once it
Portland Press Herald
Another Chinese surveillance balloon spotted over Latin America, U.S. says (opens Portland Press Herald)
Published Feb 3, 2023
Portland Press Herald's feed description
The Chinese government claimed that the device flying over the United States was a "civilian airship" that is used to collect information about the weather with 'limited self-steering capability.'
Portland Press Herald
U.S. considering plan to down Chinese balloon over Atlantic (opens Portland Press Herald)
Published Feb 3, 2023
Portland Press Herald's feed description
The balloon was spotted Saturday morning over the Carolinas as it approached the Atlantic coast.
The Daily Caller
US Downs Chinese Spy Balloon (opens The Daily Caller)
Published Feb 3, 2023
The Daily Caller's feed description
The U.S. shot down a Chinese spy balloon Saturday afternoon.
Wfmy News 2
3 fast facts about the Chinese balloon flying over the U.S. (opens Wfmy News 2)
Published Feb 3, 2023
Wfmy News 2's feed description
Government officials confirmed a surveillance balloon from the People’s Republic of China is flying over the U.S. Here’s what we know.
KVIA El Paso
What to know about the suspected Chinese spy balloon (opens KVIA El Paso)
Published Feb 3, 2023
KVIA El Paso's feed description
CNN By Sonnet Swire, CNN A suspected Chinese surveillance balloon in the skies over the continental United States has sparked national security and diplomatic concerns, adding to already tense Washington-Beijing relations.
Washington Times
Chinese balloon spotted in North Carolina as suspected spy craft floats eastward over U.S. airspace (opens Washington Times)
Published Feb 3, 2023
Washington Times's feed description
The suspected Chinese spy balloon that entered U.S. airspace earlier this week was spotted over North Carolina on Saturday as it makes its eastward course toward the Atlantic Ocean.
BizPac Review
Military shoots down Chinese balloon, but Americans are still asking ‘how is this allowed to happen?’ (opens BizPac Review)
Published Feb 3, 2023
BizPac Review's feed description
The US military shot down the Chinese spy balloon that has been floating across the country for days, flying by military installations.
The Guardian
Second spy balloon spotted over Latin America, says Pentagon, as Blinken postpones China trip (opens The Guardian)
Published Feb 3, 2023
The Guardian's feed description
Secretary of state calls the incident in US airspace a ‘clear violation of US sovereignty and international law’
Breitbart News
United States Shoots Down Chinese Spy Balloon (opens Breitbart News)
Published Feb 3, 2023
Breitbart News's feed description
The U.S. military has shot down the suspected Chinese spy balloon that has been in the sky above the continental United States.
NBC 6 South Florida
It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s a Spy Balloon? What We Know About the Chinese Surveillance Device (opens NBC 6 South Florida)
Published Feb 3, 2023
NBC 6 South Florida's feed description
The Pentagon says the balloon, which is carrying sensors and surveillance equipment, is maneuverable and has shown it can change course.
FOX 6 Milwaukee
China balloon: What we know about suspected spy in the sky (opens FOX 6 Milwaukee)
Published Feb 3, 2023
FOX 6 Milwaukee's feed description
The balloon was last spotted over the Carolinas Saturday as it neared the coast, with President Biden considering plans to shoot it down.
WHEC Rochester
China balloon: Many questions about suspected spy in the sky (opens WHEC Rochester)
Published Feb 3, 2023
WHEC Rochester's feed description
A massive white orb flying across U.S. airspace has triggered a diplomatic maelstrom and is blowing up on social media. The Pentagon says it’s a Chinese spy balloon and its presence prompted Secretary of State Antony Blinken to cancel a trip to China that was aimed at dialing down tensions between t…
Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier
US considering plan to down Chinese balloon over Atlantic (opens Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier)
Published Feb 3, 2023
Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier's feed description
The Biden administration is considering a plan to shoot down a large Chinese balloon suspected of conducting surveillance on U.S. military. It would be brought down once it is above
Tucson
Chinese spy balloon over the US: An aerospace expert explains how the balloons work and what they can see (opens Tucson)
Published Feb 3, 2023
Tucson's feed description
A Chinese high-altitude balloon violated U.S. airspace, a serious enough breach to nix a high-level diplomatic meeting in Beijing. The balloon itself, however, was not much of a threat.
Billings Gazette
Update: Big China spy balloon moving east over US, Pentagon says (opens Billings Gazette)
Published Feb 3, 2023
Billings Gazette's feed description
China's Foreign Ministry said Friday that a balloon the U.S. suspects of conducting surveillance was a civilian "airship" used for research, mainly meteorological purposes.
Fox News
If Chinese spy balloon escapes US airspace, get ready for an even bigger disaster (opens Fox News)
Published Feb 3, 2023
Fox News's feed description
A Chinese spy balloon has been floating over America this week. That's shockingly bad news. But things will get even worse if the balloon is allowed to leave American airspace.
NBC Chicago
US Downs Suspected Chinese Spy Balloon Off Carolina Coast and Moves to Recover Debris (opens NBC Chicago)
Published Feb 3, 2023
NBC Chicago's feed description
President Joe Biden said on Saturday that he ordered U.S. officials to shoot down the suspected Chinese spy balloon earlier this week and that national security leaders decided the best time for the operation was when it got over water.
Foxla
2nd Chinese balloon detected over Latin America, Pentagon says (opens Foxla)
Published Feb 3, 2023
Foxla's feed description
The spectacle drew severe Pentagon accusations of spying on Friday, while sending some excited or alarmed Americans outside with binoculars.
Breitbart News
China Claims Spy Balloon over Montana Is for 'Meteorology' (opens Breitbart News)
Published Feb 3, 2023
Breitbart News's feed description
China has a long history of claiming its provocative military moves are merely research projects, particularly for meteorology.
Fox News
China maintains spy balloon is civilian, claims some in US 'have hyped it up to attack and smear China' (opens Fox News)
Published Feb 3, 2023
Fox News's feed description
China is maintaining that the balloon over the U.S. is a civilian research craft, asserting "some politicians and media in the US have hyped it up."

Showing the first 25 of 164 headlines. ·

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.